Tiger Sharks earn two blowouts on the way to Districts
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Tiger Sharks earn two blowouts on the way to Districts

ByKen Paulk

Tuning up for the 1A District 4 tournament, the Port St. Joe girls basketball team has gone on a four-game win streak, boosting their record to 10-8 on the season after blowout wins over Holmes County and Franklin County this past week. 

On Tuesday, January 24, the Tiger Sharks hosted the Holmes County Blue Devils (9-11), and sent them home after a 71-50 scorching. 

Holding only a 16-13 lead after the first quarter, the Sharks took control of the game with a 22-9 second period burst to take a 38-22 halftime lead. 

St. Joe increased the lead with a 15-10 third quarter before both teams scored 18 points in the final frame. 

Mari Johnson led the Sharks with a triple-double, scoring 20, ripping down 17 boards, and committing 10 thefts of Blue Devil passes. Johnson barely missed a fourth double as she handed out eight assists. 

Ty’Shawn Shackleford also had a monster game with a double-double of her own: 19 points and 12 rebounds. 

Point guard Jae Lenox scored 17 and assisted on eight more Shark scores, while Alonah Segree scored in double figures with 11 points to go along with eight rebounds. Jayla Hills added four points, four assists, and six steals. 

Friday night’s contest at Franklin County (12-7) proved to be even more of a blowout as the Tiger Sharks defeated the Seahawks 46-11. 

Starting slowly, the Sharks held only a 9-5 advantage after one quarter, but quickly ended any hope of a Franklin County upset with a blistering 24-2 second period. 

Keeping its intensity, St. Joe outscored the Seahawks 11-2 in the third period before a quiet final period, in which each team scored only two points for the final margin of victory. 

Lenox led the scoring with 20 points to go along with five rebounds and five steals. Johnson completed another double-double with 10 points, 12 boards, seven assists, and five steals. 

Segree and Shackleford each scored seven points, with Hills adding two points. Segree also pulled down seven rebounds, while Shackleford had five. Hills also grabbed three steals.